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Propane Tanker Trailer Safety

By August 23, 2015April 6th, 2023No Comments

Propane is a flammable gas that is regulated for transport under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Act and Regulations. The movement of any propane tank or cylinder is fully regulated under the TDG Regulations unless an exemption applies.

The use of “Liquefied Petroleum Gas” as the shipping name is intended for mixtures of petroleum gases containing any of the following: BUTANE (UN1011), BUTYLENE (UN1012), ISOBUTYLENE (UN1055), PROPYLENE (UN1077), ISOBUTANE (UN1969), and PROPANE (UN1978). If UN1978, PROPANE, is to be transported on a road vehicle and is identified as LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS on the shipping document, the shipping name PROPANE must be shown, in parentheses, following the words LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS.

Propane Tank Trailer

CYLINDER LOADING AND SECURING

All compressed gas cylinders are considered dangerous because they contain gas under pressure. The cylinder’s valve can easily be damaged by falling or striking another object; something that could create a rocket out of an ordinary cylinder. The TDG Regulations [Section 5.4] say only that the small means of containment must be loaded and secured on a means of transport in such a way as to prevent, under normal conditions of transportation, damage to the means of containment or to the means of transport that could lead to an accidental release of the dangerous goods.

Minimum Dangerous Goods Shipping Document Requirements for Propane

  1. Name and address of consignor
  2. Date the shipping document was prepared
  3. Description of the dangerous goods in the following order:
  • Shipping name: Propane
  • The words “Not Odorized” for propane that has not been odorized
  • Primary classification: 2.1
  • UN Number: UN 1978
  • Packing group: none for compressed gases
  1. The quantity in the International System of Units (SI)
  2. The number of containers for dangerous goods in small containers requiring safety labels
  3. The words “24-Hour Number” followed by a telephone number where the consignor can be easily reached
  4. Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) number and telephone number to
  5. activate it (if required)

Source: Transportation of Propane Cylinders and Bulk Tanks by Road, 2012. For more information click here.